Alert device for pneumatic object

ABSTRACT

An alert device, which is adapted for mounting to a valve of a pneumatic object, is capable of detecting any decrease in the interior pneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object and generating a warning signal immediately therefor. The alert device includes a signal arrangement and a connector, wherein the signal arrangement includes a cap, a signal generator fittingly received in the cap, and a power supply arrangement comprising a first contact unit and a second contact unit, and the connector comprises a power inlet and a power outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an alert device for pneumaticobject, and more particularly relates to an alert device which isattached to a valve of the pneumatic object, so that when the pressureinside the pneumatic object decreases due to gas leakage or otherreasons, a signal will be generated.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts

[0004] Pneumatic objects are widely used in different aspects in oureveryday lives such as balloon and pneumatic toys for entertainment,tires and pneumatic boats in transportation, pneumatic safe guards forlife saving. However, people will not pay attention to the condition ofthe pneumatic objects all the time while using them, so when thepressure inside the pneumatic object is not sufficient, people may notbe aware and alert. It may not be important for gas leakage from thepneumatic toys or balloons. However, if the gas leakage is happenedduring the use of tires and pneumatic boats for transportation orpneumatic safe guards for life saving, it will increase the risk ofdriving a car or monitoring a boat or loss of one's life as thepneumatic safe guard cannot function.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0005] The main object of the present invention is to provide an alertdevice for pneumatic object, wherein the alert device is adapted formounting in a valve of the pneumatic object and to detect the interiorpneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object. A warning signal isimmediately generated when the interior pneumatic pressure of thepneumatic object is lowered than a predetermined safety pressure.Therefore, when the pneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object isinsufficient to timely replace or repair the pneumatic object before thehappening of any tragedies, users can be alert with the signal.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an alertdevice for pneumatic object, wherein the alert device comprises aconnector that controls the opening and closing of a circuit such thatthe alert device is in an open circuit condition and consumes noelectricity when the pneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object ishigher than a predetermine pressure. The alert device is in a closecircuit condition and generates a warning signal when the pneumaticpressure of the pneumatic object is lower than the predeterminedpressure.

[0007] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present inventionprovides an alert device, comprising:

[0008] a signal arrangement which comprises a cap, a signal generatorfittingly received in said cap and a power supply arrangement whichcomprises a first contact unit connected to said generator and a secondcontact unit; and

[0009] a connector, adapted for connecting to a valve of a pneumaticobject, further comprising a power inlet connected to said secondcontact unit of said power supply arrangement and a power outletconnected to said signal generator, wherein said power inlet and saidpower outlet are arranged to electrically disconnect with each otherwhen the pneumatic object has a pneumatic pressure equal to or higherthan a predetermined pressure, wherein when said pneumatic pressure ofsaid pneumatic object is lower than said predetermined level, said powerinlet and said power outlet is electrically connected to transmitelectricity from said power inlet through said second contact unit ofsaid power supply arrangement to said power outlet to generate a warningsignal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a sectional perspective view of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 4 is the sectional view of the present invention when a valveof a pneumatic object is under pressure.

[0014]FIG. 5 is the perspective view of the present invention with areceiver.

[0015]FIG. 6 is the perspective view of the present invention beinginstalled in a tire of a car.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the present invention is an alertdevice for detecting an interior pneumatic pressure of a pneumaticobject, such as vehicle tires, pneumatic boats, and etc. The alertdevice comprises a signal arrangement 1 and a connector 40.

[0017] The signal arrangement 1 comprises a cap 10, a signal generator20 received in the cap 10, and a power supply arrangement 30.

[0018] The power supply arrangement 30, comprising a first contact unit31 connected to the signal generator 20 and a second contact unit 32connected to the connector 40.

[0019] The connector 40 comprises a power inlet 41 connected to thesecond contact unit 32 of the power supply arrangement 30 and a poweroutlet 42 connected to the signal generator 20, so that the connector 40is mounted to a valve of the pneumatic object for detecting the interiorpneumatic pressure of the pneumatic object. When the pneumatic pressureis equal to or higher than a predetermined standard pressure, the powerinlet 41 and the power outlet 42 is spaciously arranged to electricallydisconnect with each other since the power inlet 41 is being pressed ina pressing status. When the pneumatic pressure is lower than thepredetermined standard pressure, the power inlet 41 and the power outlet42 is electrically connected since the power inlet 41 is being releasedas shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, the second contact unit 32 of the powersupply arrangement 30 is capable of electrically connecting the powersupply arrangement and the signal generator 20 through the power outlet42 to generate warning signals.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the connector 40, which is made ofmetallic materials, has two communicating units, namely a firstcommunicating unit 43 and a second communicating unit 44, on two endsrespectively. The first communicating unit 43 is adapted for connectingto the valve of the pneumatic object and the second communicating unit44 has a bottom surface 441. The connector 40 further comprises aninterior protruded head 431 transversely extended from the firstcommunicating unit 43 of the connector 40 to a through hole 432 of thebottom surface 441 of the second communicating unit 44 of the connector40. Therefore, when the connector 40 is mounted to the valve of thepneumatic object, the interior protruded head 431 is capable ofconnecting to the valve of the pneumatic object in such a manner thatgas inside the pneumatic object presses to the bottom surface 441 of thesecond communicating unit 44 through the through hole 432.

[0021] The connector 40 further comprises an insulating plate 45positioned on the bottom surface 441, wherein the second communicatingunit 44 of the connector 40 further comprises a conductor 46 surroundinga peripheral portion of the insulating plate 45 and mounting on thesecond communicating unit 44 for securely connecting the insulatingplate 45 with the second communicating unit 44 of the connector 40, sothat the insulating plate 45 is capable of biasing towards the bottomsurface 441 of the second communicating unit 44 of the connector 40. Theconnector 40 is adapted to have a detecting cavity 451, defined betweenthe bottom surface 441 and the insulating plate 45 when the gas insidethe pneumatic object moves towards the second communicating unit 44 ofthe connector 40.

[0022] The second communicating unit 44 further has an opening, whereinan insulative element 47 is fittingly received in the opening of thesecond communicating unit 44 and connected to the power inlet 41.

[0023] The connector 40 further comprises a conducting unit 48 and aresilient element 49 positioned between the insulative element 47 andthe insulating plate 45, wherein the conducting unit 48 have a firstside biasing to the insulating plate 45 and a second side biasingagainst a free end of the resilient element 49.

[0024] The power outlet 42 comprises a spring pressing against to a topsurface of the second communicating unit 44 of the connector 40.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, the detecting cavity 451 is formed when theconnector 40 is inflated with gas, wherein the gas will press againstthe conducting unit 48 and the corresponding resilient element 49. Theresilient element 49 is being compressed and shortened in length todefine a predetermined distance between the conducting unit 48 and theconductor 46 such that the conducting unit 28 and the conductor 46 isnot connected.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, when the pneumatic pressure is lowered tothe predetermined standard pressure that is lower than a strength of theresilient element 49, the resilient element 49 will stretch and push theconducting unit 48 towards the conductor 46, such that the power inlet41 is electrically connected to the power outlet 42 through theresilient element 49 to the conducting unit 48 with the top end of theconnector 40. Therefore, the signal generator 20 is electricallyconnected to the power supply arrangement and generate a warning signal.

[0027] Under normal situation, that is, when the pneumatic pressure ishigher than the predetermined standard pressure, the connector 40 willnot use up any electricity of the power supply arrangement 30 becausethe connector 40 is not electrically connected to the power supplyarrangement 30. Therefore, when the interior pneumatic pressure of thepneumatic object is lowered than the predetermined standard pressure,the signal generator 20 is capable of immediately electricallyconnecting to the connector 40 and generating warning signals. Thus, thedrawback of having no signal generation due to using up of electricityby the connector 40 under normal situation is eliminated.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the conductor 46 has a jaw-shapedinterior surface for fittingly receiving a peripheral surface of theconducting unit 48 when the conducting unit 48 is biased against by theresilient element 49, as shown in FIG. 4, such that the conducting unit48 and the conductor 46 is more fittingly and electrically connected.

[0029] Furthermore, the conducting unit 48 further has a protruded unit481 and is cylindrical in shape for fittingly connected with the freeend of the resilient element 49.

[0030] The power inlet 41, which is connected to a mounting end of theresilient element 49, further comprises a mounting unit 411 with respectto the protruded unit 481 of the conducting unit 48, such that the freeend and the mounting end of the resilient element 49 is capable ofsecurely connected to the power inlet 41 and the conducting unit 48respectively. Therefore, the resilient element 49 will not be displacedby any movement of the pneumatic object and be securely positioned.

[0031] Moreover, the connector 40 comprises a main body having atooth-shaped outer surface 401, wherein the cap 10 has an inner surface101 for fittingly receiving the outer surface 401 of the connector 40.Therefore, when the cap 10 is connected to the connector 40, two sideends of the spring of the power outlet 42 are pressed against an end ofthe connector 40 and the signal generator 20 respectively, wherein thepower supply arrangement 30 further comprises an insulating cover 33 toavoid any contact with the spring of the power outlet 42.

[0032] The outer surface 401 of the connector 40 further comprises anO-shaped cover surrounding a peripheral connecting junction between theconnector and the cap for stopping any water penetration when thepneumatic object is used in wet environment.

[0033] The bottom surface 431 of the first communicating unit 43 of theconnector 40 further comprises a plastic element 433 attached on theconnector 40 for connecting a valve A1 of the pneumatic object A toprevent the leakage of gas.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention further comprises areceiver 50 communicated with the signal generator 20 adapted forreceiving the warning signal from the signal generator 20 andtransforming the warning signal to other forms such as language outputor visual display to alert a user immediately so that the user is ableto change or repair the pneumatic object before the happening of anyaccident due to insufficient pressure inside the pneumatic object.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 6, the present invention comprises a pluralityof alert devices of the present invention T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6,illustrated as the broken line, and a display unit D, wherein each ofthe warning devices is installed to a respective tire's valve in avehicle A, wherein the display unit D which is positioned inside thevehicle A comprises a signal receiver A1 and a plurality of signalindicators 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 arranged corresponding to thesignal frequencies of the alert devices T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 ofdifferent tires respectively. Therefore, when the pneumatic pressure ofany tire of the vehicle A reduces under the predetermined standardpressure, the signal receiver A1 receives the specific warning signalwith specific frequency from the respective alert device T1, T2, T3, T4,T5, or T6, and triggers the corresponding signal indicator 51, 52, 53,54, or 55 to generate a lighting signal, so that the user can aware ofthe status of each tire independently and discover any gas leakage toprevent accident inside the Vehicle A.

[0036] Moreover, the display unit D may further include a warning soundgenerator to produce a warning sound signal when any of the signalindicator 51 to 55 is activated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An alert device, comprising: a signal arrangementwhich comprises a cap, a signal generator received in said cap, and apower supply arrangement which comprises a first contact unit connectedto said generator and a second contact unit; and a connector, adaptedfor mounting to a valve of a pneumatic object, comprises a power inletconnected to said second contact unit of said power supply arrangementand a power outlet connected to said signal generator, wherein when thepneumatic object has a pneumatic pressure higher than a predeterminedstandard pressure, said power inlet and said power outlet are arrangedto electrically disconnect with each other, wherein when said pneumaticpressure of said pneumatic object is lower than said predeterminedstandard pressure, said power inlet and said power outlet iselectrically connected to transmit electricity from said power inletthrough said second contact unit of said power supply arrangement tosaid power outlet and generate a warning signal.
 2. The alert device, asrecited in claim 1, wherein said connector is made of electricconductive material and further comprises first and second communicatingunits on two side ends of said connector respectively, wherein saidfirst communicating unit further comprises: an interior protruded head,which is transversely extended from a bottom surface of said firstcommunicating unit, having a through hole to form a passage within saidbottom surface of said first communicating unit and said through hole ofsaid interior protruded head; an insulating plate positioned on saidbottom surface of said second communicating unit; a conductor mounted ona peripheral portion of said second communicating unit; an insulativeelement received in an opening of said second communicating unit whilesaid power inlet is provided inside said insulative element; aconducting unit; and a resilient element positioned between saidinsulative element and said insulating plate, wherein said conductingunit has a first side biasing against said insulating plate and a secondside biasing against a free end of said resilient element.
 3. The alertdevice, as recited in claim 2, wherein said conductor is mounted insidesaid second communicating unit for biasing said insulating plate againstsaid bottom surface of said first communicating unit, wherein saidconnector has a detecting cavity defined between said bottom surface ofsaid first communicating unit and said insulating plate when said secondcommunicating unit is inflated with gas from the pneumatic object. 4.The alert device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said conductor has ajaw-shaped interior surface and said conducting unit has a cylindricalcavity for receiving said free end of said resilient element and aprotruded unit extended from said cylindrical cavity, wherein said powerinlet has a mounting unit corresponding to said conducting unit and saidmounting unit is positioned on a bottom of said resilient element. 5.The alert device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said conductor has ajaw-shaped interior surface and said conducting unit has a cylindricalcavity for receiving said free end of said resilient element and aprotruded unit extended from said cylindrical cavity, wherein said powerinlet has a mounting unit corresponding to said conducting unit and saidmounting unit is positioned on a bottom of said resilient element. 6.The alert device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector furthercomprises a main body having a tooth-shaped outer surface, wherein anopening of said cap has an inner surface to receive said outer surfaceof said connector so as to securely connect said cap to said connector.7. The alert device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said connectorfurther comprises a main body having a tooth-shaped outer surface,wherein an opening of said cap has an inner surface to receive saidouter surface of said connector so as to securely connect said cap tosaid connector.
 8. The alert device, as recited in claim 7, wherein saidresilient element of said power outlet has two sides biasing against asurface of said connector and said signal generator respectively,wherein said power supply arrangement further comprises an insulatingcover on said power supply arrangement.
 9. The alert device, as recitedin claim 2, wherein said connector further comprises an O-shaped cover,surrounding a peripheral connecting junction between said connector andsaid cap, and a plastic element attached on said connector forconnecting a bottom surface of a valve of a pneumatic object.
 10. Thealert device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said alert device furthercomprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generatoradapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator andtransforming the signal to an audio output or an visual display.
 11. Thealert device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said alert device furthercomprises a signal receiver communicated with said signal generatoradapted for receiving a signal from said signal generator andtransforming the signal to an audio output or an visual display.
 12. Analert device, comprising: a signal arrangement which comprises a cap, asignal generator received in said cap, and a power supply arrangementwhich comprises a first contact unit connected to said generator and asecond contact unit; and a connector, made of metallic materials, forconnecting to a valve of a pneumatic object, wherein said connectorcomprises: a power inlet connected to said second contact unit of saidpower supply arrangement; a power outlet connected to said signalgenerator, wherein when the pneumatic object has an interior pneumaticpressure higher than a predetermined standard pressure, said power inletand said power outlet are arranged to electrically disconnect with eachother, wherein when said pneumatic pressure of said pneumatic object islower than said predetermined standard pressure, said power inlet andsaid power outlet is electrically connected to generate a warningsignal; a first and a second communicating units provided at two ends ofsaid connector respectively, wherein said first communicating unit has athrough hole to form a passage for air movement between said alertdevice and the pneumatic object; an insulating plate positioned on abottom surface of said second communicating unit; a conductor mounted ona peripheral portion of said second communicating unit; an insulativeelement received in an opening of said second communicating unit whilesaid power inlet provided inside said insulative element; a conductingunit having a first side biasing to said insulating plate and a secondside; and a resilient element positioned between said insulative elementand said insulating plate, wherein a free end of said resilient elementis biased against said second side of said conducting unit.
 13. Thealert device, as recited in claim 12, wherein said conductor is mountedinside said second communicating unit for biasing said insulating plateagainst said bottom surface of said first communicating unit, whereinsaid connector has a detecting cavity defined between said bottomsurface of said first communicating unit and said insulating plate whensaid second communicating unit is inflated with gas from the pneumaticobject.
 14. The alert device, as recited in claim 12, wherein saidconductor has a jaw-shaped interior surface and said conducting unithaving a cylindrical cavity for receiving said free end of saidresilient element and a protruded unit extended from said cylindricalcavity, wherein said power inlet has a mounting unit corresponding tosaid conducting unit and said mounting unit is positioned on a bottom ofsaid resilient element.
 15. The alert device, as recited in claim 12,wherein said connector further comprises a main body having atooth-shaped outer surface, wherein an opening of said cap has an innersurface to receive said outer surface of said connector so as tosecurely connect said cap to said connector.
 16. The alert device, asrecited in claim 12, wherein said resilient element of said power outlethas two sides biasing against a surface of said connector and saidsignal generator respectively, wherein said power supply arrangementfurther comprises an insulating cover on said power supply arrangement.17. The alert device, as recited in claim 12, wherein said connectorfurther comprises an O-shaped cover, surrounding a peripheral connectingjunction between said connector and said cap, and a plastic elementattached on said connector for connecting a bottom surface of a valve ofa pneumatic object.
 18. The alert device, as recited in claim 12,wherein said alert device further comprises a signal receivercommunicated with said signal generator adapted for receiving a signalfrom said signal generator and transforming the signal to an audiooutput or an visual display.
 19. An alert system for a vehicle,comprising a plurality of alert devices installed on tire valves of thevehicle respectively for producing a warning signal when an interiorpneumatic pressure of each of said tires is lower than a predeterminedstandard pressure, a signal receiver receiving said warning signal fromsaid alert devices, and a display unit positioned inside the vehicle forillustrating said warning signal with respect to said alert device thatproduces said warning signal.
 20. The alert system, as recited in claim19, wherein said signal receiver has a plurality of receiving channelscorrespondingly to various signal frequencies of said alert devicesrespectively so as to distinguish said warning signal received from eachof said alert devices correspondingly.